Review: Using Square to Accept Credit Card Payments

Posted byDaniel HoangPosted inThoughts

I received my Square credit card reader in the mail last week. Square is an innovative company that has created mobile software and hardware for individuals and companies to accept credit card payments. Traditionally, accepting credit card payments required long applications to the credit card companies, installing software and hardware, and a long and tedious process. With Square, users simply sign up and receive the reader in the mail. Mobile apps work for most major cell phones and the Apple iPad.

The experience is seamless. The merchant enters in the name of the product, snaps a picture of it, and swipes the customer’s credit card on the reader. The customer then signs his or her name with their finger. A receipt is then mailed to the customer with the picture, description, and a map of where the purchase occurred. The merchant receives funds from Square after a processing fee of around 2.75% plus 15 cents per transaction. Most importantly, there’s no upfront activation fee, or any other recurring fees with traditional credit card agreements.

While a storefront may not necessary switch to Square, this opens up the door for freelance consultants, artists, and individuals. I’m personally looking forward to accepting credit card payments at my next yard sale.

Square is available for iPhone, iPod touch (2G+), iPad, Nexus One, Motorola Droid, Motorola Droid X, HTC Droid Incredible, HTC Evo, HTC Hero, HTC Desire, Samsung Galaxy S series, and the LG Ally.

Published by Daniel Hoang

Daniel Hoang is a visual leader, storyteller, and creative thinker. As an experienced management consultant, he believes in a big picture approach that includes strong project leadership, creative methods, change management, and strategic visioning. He uses a range of visual tools to communicate business challenges, solutions, and goals. His change strategy is to build "tribes" of supporters and evangelists to drive change in culture and organization. Daniel is an avid technologist and futurist and early adopter.

2 thoughts on “Review: Using Square to Accept Credit Card Payments”

  1. Thanks for this review, I have been wondering how well that works. I've been considering getting it for my phone, but I didn't want to go through the trouble of purchasing the accessory if it failed to perform well.

  2. The benefit of Square is that they figured out how to manufacture the accessory at a really low cost: Free. Can't hurt to sign up and try it out.

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